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The impact of N-acetylcysteine on lactate, biomarkers of oxidative stress, immune response, and muscle damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Marcin Sadowski, Emilia Zawieja, Agata Chmurzynska
J Cell Mol Med 2024 28(23):e70198

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39632267
PubMed Central
PMC11617117
DOI
10.1111/jcmm.70198
Funding
Open-access publication costs were financed by the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education through the Poznan University of Life Sciences research strategy for 2024–2026.
Competing interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis
ModelHuman
Sample20 studies
InterventionNAC around exercise across included trials
DurationVaried
EndpointsMuscle soreness; Lactate; IL-6; TBARS; Glutathione; TNF-alpha; Creatine kinase

What the study showed, in plain terms

Recent meta-analysis focused on recovery, redox and inflammatory biomarkers rather than only headline performance outcomes.

Key findings

NAC was associated with lower soreness, lactate, IL-6 and TBARS and higher glutathione, while TNF-alpha, creatine kinase and oxidized glutathione were not significantly changed.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Biomarker changes do not automatically prove better training adaptation or meaningful long-term performance benefit; protocols were heterogeneous.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology